I was wrapping up a team development project today, and one of the participants gave me a postcard that says "Skepticism is a Virtue" on it. (We had talked briefly about the value of skepticism.) It was a sweet gesture from a great person, and it really crystallized something that has been running through my mind for a while now. Skepticism really is a virtue, particularly when we're talking about organizational life.
When we welcome skepticism as a valid human reaction, we're saying that we accept that people may come to a change process or a teambuilding with concerns. After all, aren't concerns a rational thing to have? We've all been a part of crummy work experiences. Why should we expect that people throw those experiences aside and come to our process waving the pom poms of unconditional enthusiasm? Are we really that egotistical?
I choose to welcome the skeptics with a whole heart, and ask that they bear with me while we give the process a try. Everyone will make their own decisions in time as to what is valid and what isn't anyway. And when people walk up to me and say "I thought this would be lame, but it was great." or "You made a believer out of me." it really warms my heart. But I know I have to earn it. And yet plenty of leaders I've known view skepticism as a kind of insult to the process. But reasonable reactions, delivered honestly, should never be an insult.
It's just truth. Wouldn't you rather have truth?
So I'm going to frame that postcard and hang it on my wall this weekend to remind me of this. And when I look at it, I'm going to smile and think of the fantastic skeptics who added so much candor to that project.
Wherever you are today, leaders, I hope you're smiling too.
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